Halle Houssein Joins the Royals on Season-Long Loan
Reading FC Women are thrilled to announce the arrival of Halle Houssein to RG2, securing her services on a season-long loan that will see her don the blue and white until the close of the 2023/24 season.
At just 18 years old, Halle arrives at Reading with a burgeoning reputation and bags of promise. Her journey to the Royals has been marked by stints at top-flight clubs Arsenal and, most recently, West Ham United, where she recently inked her first professional contract.
Boasting experience in the Barclays Women's Super League and an international pedigree representing England at youth levels, Halle's presence in Liam Gilbert's squad promises to be an electrifying addition to the team.
Halle's football journey commenced at the tender age of four when she joined the esteemed Arsenal youth programme. Her remarkable rise continued, and at the age of 17, she made her Women's Super League debut, making a memorable appearance against none other than Reading FC Women. Her professional debut set the stage for more impressive outings, including being named in Arsenal's matchday squads for games against the likes of Manchester United and in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
In January 2022, Halle embarked on a new chapter in East London, signing up with West Ham United, initially on a dual-registration basis with Arsenal. Her impact was immediate, marked by a sensational debut in the Continental Tyres League Cup against Chelsea, where she found the net within moments of coming off the bench. Although the match ended in a 4-2 defeat, Halle's performance caught the eye, leading to a further 11 first-team appearances by the end of the season.
The 2022/23 campaign saw Houssein embark on a loan spell with Gillingham Women, a move that allowed her to shine once again. Her return to West Ham United this summer was greeted with a three-year professional contract, marking a significant milestone in her burgeoning career.
On joining Reading FC Women, Halle Houssein expressed her excitement and ambitions with the Royals, stating, "I'm very excited to join Reading. It’s a great club with fantastic facilities, people and fans. It’s a big club and I’m honoured to be here.
"I like to come off the pitch knowing I've given 110% towards the cause, and I think that's imperative when playing in midfield.
"Hopefully as a team we can achieve great things, and make the fans proud everytime we take the the pitch."
Manager Liam Gilbert had high praise for Halle, having previously come up against the midfielder, and is pleased to have her on her side, "She's a very good young technical player that I played against last year. I know Dan's worked quite closely with her, and we're both really glad that she'll be with us and we're excited to bring her into the squad.
"She's someone we know that can come in and hit the ground running, which is so rare for someone so young, and we're excited to see how she develops over this year."
As she becomes a part of the Royals family for the 2023/24 season, we eagerly anticipate the impact this young talent will make in our blue and white colours.